Press Release: Gennady Golovkin (pictured) will defend his world middleweight championship against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on Saturday, September 16th from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT.

Here is an update from Golovkin and his trainer, Abel Sanchez:

Gennady Golovkin

Q: You are the middleweight champion. Many people think you are #1 P4P. What would a victory over Canelo add to that?

A: “It is not serious for me, that pound for pound. There are so many great fighters. For me, what is more serious is, maybe last five years I destroy my opponents, and Canelo did the same. I do not know who is close with us in the middleweight division. I do not know who is number two, number three, number four. I know this guy [Canelo]. He is a special guy. He is a superstar. He is national idol, a hero.

“This is much bigger for me, not pound-for-pound. Pound-for-pound is just one guy who says, 'You are number one pound-for-pound,' and another one says, 'No, I like that guy more.' Everybody feels different. For me, pound-for-pound is not serious. This is my biggest fight. This fight is real because it is about winning a war. It is about boxing history. It is about being the champion of the world.”

Abel Sanchez:

Q: Gennady is the middleweight champion and the No. 1 P4P on most lists. What would a victory over Canelo Alvarez add to that? Why is it that you and Gennady wanted this fight more than any other?

A: “I think the winner of this fight on September 16th clearly establishes the best middleweight in the world as well as a strong argument for the best fighter in the sport. The winner will also be one of the most marketable fighters as well as the top of the pound for pound list, which doesn't always go hand in hand.

“A victory over Canelo will bring Gennady within one fight of tying the record for consecutive middleweight title defenses. History will show that Gennady has always stepped to accept a challenge and in the middleweight division that's saying something.”

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For more pre-fight hype, tune into Episode #2 of 24/7 Canelo/Golovkin which premieres Saturday, Sept. 9th on HBO Immediately following the live Boxing After Dark triple header from the StubHub Center at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.